Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Monday, February 02, 2009
MDC and MIFF unveil 2009 film poster and lineup
From March 6 through March 15, film buffs from around the globe will converge in Miami to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), the only major film festival hosted by a college or university.
During a press conference at the Freedom Tower this morning, MIFF announced the selection of films for the 2009 program and unveiled this year's promotional poster, which displays a painting from the late Cuban master Cundo Bermúdez.
This year's Festival features more than 135 films from more than 40 countries, including France, Germany, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Ethiopia, China, Slovenia and Afghanistan. The ever-popular Ibero-American Competition will showcase dramatic features from Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Guatemala, Spain, Brazil, Chile and Panama.
The Festival opens with the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor from American journalist-turned-director Matt Tyrnauer and celebrates Awards Night with El Nido Vacío (Empty Nest) from Argentine producer, director and screenwriter Daniel Burman (The Motorcycle Diaries, A Year Without Love). Also noteworthy, actor and producer Andy García will host a celebration of one of Cuba's most legendary musicians, Israel "Cachao" López, with Cachao: Uno Más from director Dikayl Rimmasch.
The newest addition to the Festival lineup is Cutting the Edge – a program showcasing provoking, and sometimes extreme, works that stand at the crossroads of video art, boldly intersecting with other art disciplines.
A number of special events will take place during the Festival, including a tribute to American director, screenwriter and actor Abel Ferrara (The Driller Killer, Ms. 45, King of New York, Bad Lieutenant, The Funeral); a cinematic celebration of Cuban salsa singer Celia Cruz; the REEL Seminars series of panel discussions and professional seminars with film-industry leaders and noted filmmakers; and our opening- and closing-night galas.
Among the talent invited to attend the festivities are Italian fashion icon Valentino, Gwyneth Paltrow, Willem Dafoe, Bono, Dennis Hopper, Grace Jones, Shanyn Leigh, Leonor Watling, John Hurt, Noah Taylor, Oscar Martinez, Ben Gazzara, Natalie Portman, Demi Moore, Adrien Brody, Elsa Pataky, Abel Ferrara, Andy García, DJ Paul Kalkbrenner and Iggy Pop.
Thank you to Tiziana Finzi, our new festival director, and all of the MIFF and MDC staff who work so industriously year-round to make this event happen.
See you at the movies.
Eduardo